Klarna launches Care & Repair feature in UK and France to boost apparel lifespan

Swedish fintech company Klarna has introduced a new feature, Care & Repair, in the UK and France to streamline garment maintenance, alteration, and repair services. Developed in collaboration with UK aftersales technology platform Save Your Wardrobe (SYW), the tool allows consumers to access garment care options directly through their previous order records within the Klarna application.

The release aligns with research from a joint report by Klarna, SYW, and sustainability consultancy Create Sustain. The study reveals that while 70 percent of UK shoppers recognise that repairing items yields financial savings, only 14 percent have utilised a brand-backed repair service. According to findings, British households could save up to 370 pounds (491 dollars) annually by choosing alterations or repairs over buying replacements.

Financial incentive drives consumer repair interest

Affordability and consumer savings represent the primary motivations behind garment upkeep. The joint research highlights that 69 percent of UK consumers are more inclined to buy a product if lifetime repairs are offered free of charge by the retailer. Furthermore, 73 percent stated that care options help them derive higher value from existing items, and 68 percent reported a willingness to invest in higher-quality items if repair access is guaranteed.

The report notes that nearly three in five UK consumers spend under 50 pounds on individual clothing items intended for long-term wear. Price remains the single largest driver for increased adoption, cited by 38 percent of survey participants.

Discoverability remains primary structural hurdle

Beyond pricing, limited discoverability hampers broader engagement with care services. Only 42 percent of UK shoppers know that retail brands offer repair services, while 25 percent indicated they lack knowledge on where to source maintenance solutions.

“This is a gap in access and awareness, not appetite,” said Louisa Garcia Moreno, sustainability communications lead at Klarna. Moreno added that 77 percent of UK consumers want brands to make repair services more visible, emphasizing that embedding maintenance features into past purchase views simplifies the customer journey.

The Care & Repair feature operates within the main application at no additional cost to browse. Shoppers review purchase histories, select necessary care procedures—such as alterations, cleaning, or mending—and are matched with localized repair specialists via SYW infrastructure.